Thank You for This Earth

Thank You for This Earth

O God,

We thank you for this earth, our home; for the wide sky and the blessed sun, for the ocean and streams, for the towering hills and the whispering wind, for the trees and green grass.

We thank you for our senses by which we hear the songs of birds, and see the splendor of fields of golden wheat, and taste autumn's fruit, rejoice in the feel of snow, and smell the breath of spring flowers.

Grant us a heart opened wide to all this beauty; and save us from being so blind that we pass unseeing when even the common thornbush is aflame with your glory.

For each new dawn is filled with infinite possibilities for new beginnings and new discoveries. Life is constantly changing and renewing itself. In this new day of new beginnings with God, all things are possible. We are restored and renewed in a joyous awakening to the wonder that our lives are and, yet, can be.

Amen.

"Project Earth: Preserving the World God Created"

Read this article and think...no skimming! LOL:

http://www.asa3.org/ASA/PSCF/1998/PSCF3-98Ball.html

Excerpt:

This article explores how the concepts of ecology are presented and utilized in the evangelical Protestant response to the ecological crisis. It finds that there are seven basic themes in the literature: (1) etymological discussions; (2) the concepts of interdependence and balance; (3) cycles and energy flow; (4) food chain/food web/ecological pyramid; (5) carrying capacity; (6) the idea that humans are the disrupters of "nature's" balance; and (7) the contrary idea that humans are a part of the ecosystem. In light of these themes, I make several observations. One is that the summarized findings of ecology becomes the latest version of natural theology: God's will is for each ecosystem to be a climax ecosystem which never declines. If this is the case, then western agriculture, industry, and the use of much technology will have to be severely curtailed--a situation unacceptable to most evangelical Protestants.

Many scholars have argued that western culture, infused with a Christian understanding of the world, provided a nurturing environment for the development of science. The belief in a purposeful God, the argument goes, who gave order and coherence to the universe allowed scientists to assume that they could discover such order, such "laws." God made a world which was consistent and real, and therefore predictable. The discipline of ecology has also benefited from Christian assumptions embedded in western culture. By the time ecology began to develop as a scientific discipline, however, these assumptions had become "secularized," or stripped of their God-talk. In other words, early ecologists did not have to believe in a Christian God to assume that the world was orderly, consistent, real, and predictable. These beliefs had become cultural norms taken for granted by everyone in the West; they could be understood by an ecologist as simply similarities between Christianity and science, rather than shared beliefs which have their "genesis" in Christian doctrine.

Not surprisingly, it is these assumptions that evangelical Protestants emphasize when informing their audience about the concept of ecology.¹ Furthermore, probably in part because of these shared assumptions, the languages of ecology and theology are mixed together without any serious discussion about what the potential differences could be--not so much a synthesis as a bricolage. This article is an attempt to describe and analyze the concept of ecology contained in the evangelical Protestant response to the ecological crisis, and to raise questions about its use.
____________________________________________________________________________

I have a book entitled "Project Earth: Preserving the World God Created" ,

which is awesome on this topic. It's by a bloke by the name of Willaim Badke which has also written other interesting books and has a blog here:

http://badkemeaningofeverything.blogspot.com/

another link on his work: http://www.meaningofeverything.com/

Here are some other references (skimming allowed):

http://www.earthcareonline.org/popularbooks.html

For more on these vital topics also visit these posts:

The Misuse of "Radah" (dominion)

A Biblical View of the Environment

A Christian View of the Environment

The Meaning of Genesis

Why Are We Here?

Quantum Freewill, the Breath and Spirit of God...

Doing Lunch With The Almighty

Poverty, Pollution and Environmental Racism

Eleven Inherent rules of Corporate Behavior

Is God Green?

Thank You For This Earth

Indigenous Mind


> From: S. Starr
> To: D.S. Martin
> Subject: Glory
> Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2006 21:28:23 -0500
>
> If creation is responsive to God, if it praises him, then it bears
> witness to some crucial realities. Creation, in fact, bears witness to at
> least four realities - That God is glorious, that God wants to nurture what
> he has made, that human beings carry a penalty for walking away from God and
> his plan for them, and that we live in a precarious universe. These might
> seem like contradictions, but they're not.
>
> Let's start with God's glory. Ever wonder why so many people on the
> weekends leave the cities to find somewhere in unspoiled nature that they
> can call home for a few hours? What are they looking for? When we view it
> with eyes that see beyond the routine, creation speaks enormous volumes
> about the complexity, greatness, and wondrous power of the Creator. That's
> why, standing in front of an unexpected waterfall or coming upon a deer in
> the woods, we get the urge to worship. Nature constantly points us beyond
> itself to the One who made it, saying, "See! See the One who's responsible
> for all of this."
>
> People who escape to the great outdoors may not tell you that they're doing
> it to find God. But that is who they find.

From: D.S. Martin
Sent :	Thursday, April 27, 2006 1:01 PM
To :	"S. Starr"
Subject :	RE: Glory

I think that Mr. Eldridge (John Eldrige author of Wild At Heart and others) made use of this type of example.

It is the Creator, by His Holy Spirit, unexpectedly reaching into my soul and plucking the "Holy Chord" and as it resonates through my heart, mind and soul I will feel the urge to fall on my knees and just cry, but, not a sad cry.

This happens just as Eldridge describes it, unexpectedly; maybe a sunrise that seems to turn some surreal and unknown color that could not be duplicated on any artist's palate no matter how many times that he tried , or sometimes when we sing a song in church that touches at the love of God and the harmony of the body all combine in a glorious crescendo.

This feeling is one of those things that I try to choke down and suffocate, if I am not alone. I sometimes think that I should just let go; that maybe I'm quenching the Holy Spirit.
DSM

What EVERYONE Should Know About Reconciliation- by John Dawson

This offering is the gold standard on the subject. Click the arrow to read.

Source: http://www.reconcile.org/

Excerpt:

"Why Me?
If the people of your nation have broken covenants with God and other nations and violated relationships with one another, the path to reconciliation could begin with your act of confession. The greatest wounds in human history, the greatest injustices, have not happened through the acts of some individual perpetrator. Rather they have happened through the institutions, systems, philosophies, cultures, religions and governments of humankind. Because of this, we are tempted to absolve ourselves of all individual responsibility. However, God looks for individuals to "stand in the gap" just as He spoke through Ezekiel:
"And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one."(Ezekiel 22:30) This is a most amazing statement made by the Lord after the land of Israel had been destroyed by the Chaldeans. Could this great tragedy have been avoided by a single man who would build the wall and stand in the gap before the Lord for the land? That is certainly the implication. This gap is the breach between God and people that is created by transgression. The Lord Himself looked for a person who would stand in that breach for the land, but He could not find anyone."

Excerpt:
Four Healing Steps

We believe in Confession, Repentance, Reconciliation and Restitution.

CONFESSION:
Stating the truth; acknowledgement of the unjust or hurtful actions of myself or my people group toward other persons or categories of persons. (This is often seen as our main theme but this is simply because it is the place to begin and contemporary Christians have neglected it...)

REPENTANCE:
Turning from unloving to loving actions.

RECONCILIATION:
Expressing and receiving forgiveness, and pursuing intimate fellowship with previous enemies.

RESTITUTION:
Attempting to restore that which has been damaged or destroyed, and seeking justice wherever we have power to act or to influence those in authority to act.


Click on Articles under resources and then "What is God Requiring" for an excellent treatise on the subject.

A Native American's Prayer

Prayer to the Voice in the Winds

O Great Spirit, whose Voice I hear in the Winds,
Hear me -- for I am small and weak:
I need Your Strength and Wisdom.
I seek Strength, O Great One, not to be superior to my Brothers --
But to conquer my greatest enemy: Myself.
I seek Wisdom: the Lessons You have hidden
In every Leaf and Rock so that I may learn
And carry these messages of Life and Hope to my People.
May my hands respect the many beautiful things You have made;
May my ears be sharp - to hear Your voice.
May I always walk in Your beauty;
And let my eyes behold the red and purple Sunset
So that when Life fades with the setting Sun,
My Spirit will come to You without shame.


source: Submitted by Beliefnet member Kaqtukwawsisipuskw

Stranger In a Strange "New" World

Click the small arrow in the corner to stay on this page while watching.

I remember the first time I found this simple, yet hauntingly beautiful clip. I couldn't stop watching it. The melancholy, yet powerful song stirred something deep within me. I have to admit it was a deep, painful longing for a world I had really never known. My eyes misted. I couldn't stop watching it. I went and found the lyrics for it. here they are:

A Perfect Circle - A Stranger Lyrics

Cast the calming apple
Up and over satellites
To draw out the timid wild one
To convince you it's alright
And I listen for the whisper
Of your sweet insanity
while I formulate
Denials of your affect on me

You're a stranger
So what do I care
You vanish today
Not the first time I hear
All the lies

What am I to do with all this silence
Shy away, shy away phantom
Run away terrified child
Won't you move away
you %$@#&*! tornado
I'm better off without you
Tearing my world down

_____________________________________________________

This song is very in tune with my brooding mood at this time.

Its hard to explain. The feeling is a sweet, painful, righteous, longing and sorrow. Feeling it feels... right... as in appropriate... in order. Because in feeling it I know that I cannot but move to the unction of things on my heart. It motivates me. And that feels good and right.

Autonomous, Co-operative Networks

Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2004 18:19:51 -0600

Ok, I don't have the focus to write a thesis at the moment but here's something I offer you to think about in the vein of "new topic".
I have been carrying this one in the sidepocket of my mind for a good while. First, please forgive me for often referring to my ethnos when I converse with you. All I can say is that it is in the warp and woof of me. To surrender my place of who I am would be a terrifying loss of identity. I think that is what is wrong with most of the world right now.... Correct me if this is not a conservative view... If its not then I really am lost. People don't know who they are and where they came from and just what it is they are suppose to be doing with themselves anymore. They try to get it from tv and other media I suppose. People have lost their context...their identity. The root connection for me is that when I was lost too...I found the answer to who I was, where I came from and what I am suppose to be doing- not in a church pew (although that is where it all starts), not in my family home in suburbia...but in my familiy's traditional native culture and worldview....the one that stood for thousands of years but has almost been erased from the face of God's earth, and the same one that men Like Newt Gingrich suggests be surrendered and homogenized into pop culture once and for all now. I agree that America must pull together as one nation if we wish to survive, however, this does not mean surrenderring our individuality or diversity completely - but creating a network of diverse, autonomous communities working towards a common goal and common unity. If we remember this concept then we will not always be dividing and sub dividing ourselves into seperated- hyphenated false categories. Then, we can express our diversity and cultural perspective without detracting from the goal of the whole. I will always be a Native- American, A citizen of the United States and a member of the human family and God's Kingdom. Try to take away or harm any of these parts of me and you will have a struggle on your hands. I imagine we all feel the same about this from our own perspective if we have in fact devoted any thought to it. Getting in touch with this root connection of who I am was a potent experience with real spiritual occurances and huge realizations and paradigm shifts. All humanity points toward this same set of truths regardless of the distractions and tragedies of the dark side of human nature. I have something relevant to say on my mind that many of my ancestors died trying to say unsuccessfully.
I know, as you do too...no question in my mind about that...that our world is at a huge nexus right now...and in every phase of existence too...especially spiritually. Politics!! Its well known that our nation's democracy was modeled after the Roman senate, Greek thought and also after models of government exhibited by the Iroquois League of Nations and other tribal governments. The model of government exhibited in much of Native America was designed well enough to last eons. It was more streamlined...more decentralized...more conservative...more balanced...more in line with God's Law- Natural Law...better suited to humanity and the family structure as well as the food chain. I think it is worth mentioning that the early Christian Church was also set up this way. I believe this model of civil government was also more like what the founding fathers of the United States had in mind. Forget about the fact that it was a long time ago (not really so long) and dealt with fewer people (although in the tens of millions instead of the hundreds of millions) and a different world stage. I'm just tallking about the flow chart like exquisitely simple design of it. Never mind all that other stuff right now. Think about the formula...the model. Its about individual and community rights and responsibilities.
Thomas Paine I believe it was (Common Sense?), kind of touched on where I am going with this on the States' Rights tip. He was also talking about a network of more autonomous communities like I am. Now before you start thinking I'm talking about socialism or liberalism and dismiss it- start thinking about how a system like this would have to be and could be done. I am not such an idealist that I can honestly say that I think my vision OR...the world as it is set up right now is salvagable. I beleive that niether is salvagable without cataclysm to motivate some real paradigm shifts. I also believe we are going to live to see that cataclysm if we are not in fact watching it hatch right now. I am a BIG picture thinker. I am so beyond all this partisan political crap that the mainstream culture has been bantering about.
We can pull America out of her decaying orbit if more people will get serious and focus. To hell with all this right-left stuff...lets get back to the center...the source. This is what I have been talking about the whole time in a way. Can you see that model in your head? Think about that for a new topic. Our generation's turn to hold the reigns is coming right up.

native american

HOPE (Willy Whitefeather Vision)

Click on the arrow at the corner of the screen to listen or watch while staying with this page.

This is an awesome clip from a spiritual perspective.

"The power of peace lies within each of us."

for more info: http://ecohood.info/

Ecuador Versus Texaco

This case is absolutely shameful:

Visit these links:

http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2005/s1361018.htm

http://www.amazonwatch.org/view_news.php?id=1016

http://www.amazonwatch.org/view_news.php?id=995



This is the Texaco position:

http://www.texaco.com/sitelets/ecuador/en/legal_archives/press/2005-02-02_health_news.asp
native american

The Meaning of Genesis

I believe modern man is missing one of the major pieces to the puzzle by misunderstanding his role with regards to his relationship to Earth. Our society has become more and more individualistic, less family and community based, more materialistic and less spiritual. In fact most people don't even understand what spirituality really is. It has been confused with religiosity or religious legalism. There is a huge and ever widening gulf between man and his environment. People generally wander around not knowing where they came from, what how they got here or what role they are supposed to play in man's unfolding future. This makes for some very restless and unsatisfied people. Contemporary Christian "religion" seems to be failing to pick up this slack as it ought to be able to. People do not seem to have clear lateralization between a religion they can believe in- and one they can EXPERIENCE each and every day. How much more powerful would the churches be...how much more centered and or grounded would mankind be if this were not the case?
It's funny, most of the kids I grew up with that were regular church goers don't attend any longer...On the other hand some people that were not church goers or religious thinkers are now attending church and wrestling with life's bigger questions. It makes me wonder if another two decades will show people swapping places like this again. It makes me wonder what it was that people did not find in church that caused them to stray or likewise what people were missing in the world that has led them to church.
I personally testify that it is people's search for religious truth, or general lack of it in their everyday lives at least, that drives them to do most of what they do. Establishing a belief system or comprehensive worldview that they can EXPERIENCE instead of only believe or have faith in could make a great difference in the lives of individuals, communities even nations or the world itself.
I believe also that having a greater understanding and sense of purpose begins first with the fear (respect) of God and then respect for his creations. Creation has order, it is structured by God who structures all life. By understanding that the physical world is ordered perfectly by the maker, we may understand that human experience has the same sort of underlying order to it. The existence of the world then means; not chaos, but order, and if humans wish to exist within that order, they should integrate into the creational order. This is what wisdom and/or spirituality is all about.
It is simple really, God is the source of life, therefore, Creation has a relationship with God in which it responds to him as it's Maker, acknowledging his power and grace. This is a far cry from the ideas being passed along by our churches today and I believe this misunderstanding to be the root cause of mostly all of the shortcomings of the Church throughout history. Generally speaking, the idea that this Earth is only a disposable backdrop for the moral play of mankind is being proliferated much to the detriment of mankind itself. I acknowledge that the Bible tells us that the Earth will pass away someday. However, I fail to see how this eventuality relieves us as humans from taking care of the gift of Creation while we still have it in our care. In fact, I would venture to say that if our priorities concerning this were more in proper alignment, we would not have some of the other problems we have like the population explosion, lack of food and medical care for the masses and materialism over spirituality which leads to disharmony of every sort.
I do not necessarily think it is wrong that we have shopping centers and motorcars and golf courses and cable tv and luxury hotels with casinos. I do see that the priorities of humans are waaaay out of whack. It is possible I believe to have bounty, good times and good things in life and still be taking careof business. I respect the idea that we should care for people before worrying about a paricular problem in nature, but I don't see how the two become completely different issues, they are symbiotic.
The Bible itself demonstrates that God's mood regarding the behaviour of man is usually clearly demonstrated by the state of the Earth we live upon. When he is pleased, it is fruitful and yielding- when he is not happy it becomes unfruitful and covered with stubble and desolation. Creation was meant to bear two kinds of witness, glory to god who made it and his ongoing nuturing care for what he has made. Understanding this enables us to comprehend what it means to bear his image on Earth by representing him, we see that it is our mandate as human beings to enhance creation's witness to the glory and nurture of God.
It could be said that nature itself bears a five fold witness to God. In the Bible you find glory, nuture, also penalty , precariousness and finally reclamation of a cosmos polluted by sin. Many have remarked about a solution of ridding the planet of many people to return "Mother Earth" to its natural state. The "religious" world has used statements like this to disavow themselves from the environmental movement because they see it as elitist (wishing to rid the planet of "unworthy" men) and nearly equal to goddess worship because of the mother image. These are common traps that people fall into because the religious world has had almost nothing to say on these issues and the secular world has sought to pick up the slack. The term "Mother Earth"- as I understand it did not actually originate from any ethnic belief but from an American newspaper writer who was trying to convey something an Indian had told him..."The Earth is LIKE our Mother", in an effort to explain their reverence, not worship, of creation. This has been a popular mistranslation and misconception.
As for ridding the Earth of sinful and unworthy men, that is God's business and it has been done according to the book of Genesis. God has promised not to destroy EVERYTHING again, but does that mean that societies or civilizations themselves are safe from wrath? I doubt it. God operates among men via covenants. There has been the Old Covenant of Law, The New Covenant of Christ, and the constant covenant of man's role as steward of his creation. God keeps his end of the bargains, are we? I have experienced the power and healing that can come with the type of understanding I am talking about first hand. I don't think that mankind or contemporary Christianity will see the kind of revelation and revival it sorely needs until people in general rediscover the meaning of the Genesis.

Chomsky On Human Destiny

Diversity or Homogeneity?

I want to write a response to this e-mail propaganda that I have gotten in my inbox several times in the last 5 years. First read the "Tampa" article and then be sure to read my response to it further down:

Think about this: If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone-----YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM !!!!

Subject: THIS WAS IN A TAMPA NEWSPAPER

Will we still be the Country of choice and still be America if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in America because it is the Country of Choice??????

Think about it! All we have to say is, when will they do something about MY RIGHTS?

I celebrate Christmas...........but because it isn't celebrated by everyone..............we can no longer say Merry Christmas. Now it has to be Season's Greetings.

It's not Christmas vacation, it's Winter Break. Isn't it amazing how this winter break ALWAYS occurs over the Christmas holiday?

We've gone so far the other way, bent over backwards to not offend anyone, that I am now being offended. But it seems that no one has a problem with that. This says it all!


This is an editorial written by an
American citizen, published in a
Tampa, FL Newspaper. He did quite a job; didn't he? Read on, please!

IMMIGRANTS,
NOT AMERICANS,
MUST ADAPT.
I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we
are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11,
we have experienced a surge
in patriotism by the majority
of Americans. However...... the dust from the attacks had
barely settled when the "politically correct! " crowd began complaining about
the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.

I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to America.
Our population is almost entirely made up of descendants of immigrants.
However, there
are a few things that those
who have recently come to
our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand.
This idea of America being a
multicultural community
has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national idenitity. As Americans......
we have our own culture, our
own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.


We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language.
Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language!

"In God We Trust" is our national motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan.. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women.......on Christian principles.............
founded this nation..... and this is clearly documented.
It is certainly appropriate to display it
on the walls of our schools
If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as
your new home.........because
God is part of our culture.

If Stars and Stripes offend you, or
you don't like Uncle Sam, then you
should s eriously consider a move
to another part of this planet.
We
are happy with our culture and have
no desire to change, and we really
don't care how you did things where
you came from.
This is
OUR COUNTRY,
our land, and our lifestyle.
Our First Amendment gives every citizen the
right to express his opinion and we
will allow you every opportunity to do so!
But once you are done complaining....... whining...... and griping....... about our flag.......
our pledge...... our national motto........or our
way of life....I highly encourage you to
take advantage of one other Great American Freedom.......

THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.



It is Time for America to Speak up
If you agree -- pass this along;
if you don't agree -- delete it - You are in the WRONG Country!

AMEN

I figure if we all keep passing this to our friends (and enemies) it will also, sooner or later
get back to the complainers, lets all try,
please!



Here is my response, I actually wrote this in probably 2003:

Man, I wish that they would have held this philosophy in 1492 or in any of the five centuries of conquest since then- because it has a little ethical merit. Unfortunately however, most of it happens to be in contradiction to human nature and natural order...especially the eurocentric/ ethnocentric approach to reality. It's never too late to start learning some of the many languages and customs of the First Nations of the "Americas"- like say Iroquoiian, to prove these points by example though! Its the best way to live...by example! Even the social Darwinists know that.
Consider this. In Northern California, there was once over a hundred Native language families. They were often as different as Russian is from Hebrew. Yet, these autonomous communities of people were able to relatively peacefully coexist in co-operative networks for millenia .... that is until immigrants from another worldview came along and sought to homogenize everything into their own way of thinking. Natural law does not require homogeneity. In fact natural law is dependant on networks of diversity to operate in any kind of balance at all. Nature organizes itself into ecosystems of interdependance. Although I agree that when people migrate to new territory they should look for ways to integrate into the existing order out of ethical courtesy and pragmatic economics- it must be admitted that infinite diversity in infinite combinations does not lend itself easily to homogeneity. That is the reailty we must acknowledge and begin to work with. Did you know that wherever in the world you find the most diversity of human communities and human languages- there you also find the most ecological balance, the most species of surviving plants and animals and the most harmony among men? When death and destruction comes to these areas- it comes not because of the networks of diversity, but at the heels of the land and resource speculators and the colonial empire builders... those who seek to dominate, control and exploit...and assimilate. Think about it. Its not natural and human diversity that is the enemy. Its selfishness in the heart of Man plain and simple. Its the "Golden Rule" that we should be fighting for. If this had been observed from the inception of the "United States", we would not have some of these social problems we have now and you would not be hearing me challenge the now existing order.
Good on ya!

native american